Profile based method for deriving a temperature setpoint using a ‘delta’ based on cross-indexing a received price-point level signal

ABSTRACT

A method for adjusting a plurality of controlled subsystems in a building or plant that facilitates cooperative energy usage with a utility provider. By referring to a single profile of adjustments that correspond to changes in the value of a utility signal and distributing this to each relevant controller for each subsystem, a single setback delta can be applied to each subsystem for each change in utility signal value (i.e., pricing information). Alternatively, multiple profiles can be used to provide for firmer control and thereby allow for different zones to respond differently to a single change signal sent by the utility provider.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/329,129 filed on Oct.25, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,581, entitled “Profile Based Methodfor Deriving A Temperature Setpoint Using a ‘Delta’ based oncross-indexing a Receive Price-Point Level Signal.

This invention relates to reducing energy costs (in conjunction withtime-of-use pricing with rates that vary according to energy costs) andhas particular application to home control and building control ingeneral and is useful in areas supplied by electric utilities that wishto engage in demand side management of their area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As it becomes more expensive for electricity providers to increasegeneration, distribution and transmission capacity, a number ofstrategies for coping with increasing electrical demand have emerged.One of these is called demand side management in which the users ofelectricity themselves are adapted to reduce the amount of electricitythey use during times of peak power usage as well as in other similarsituations. The invention herein provides a way to adapt users ofelectricity to reduce their demand responsive both to predetermined rateinformation established periodically by the local utility and to realtime changes in rates. Thus by communicating the (time-of-use) energyprice rate to a control system within the customer's premises, thecontrol system can reduce the energy consumption within the premiseduring times when the cost of energy is high. The utility can reduce thenecessary generating capacity for a given area, and the users of thatpower can reduce their cost of buying it at the same time.

Previous ways to deal with related problems of reducing energyconsumption in buildings in general are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,510,398; 4,916,328 and 4,909,041. Nevertheless there is no reason whythis invention could not be used in non-residential buildings or even inindustrial processes that consume electric power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual block diagram of one form of the preferredembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a conceptual block diagram of a preferred embodiment busstructure for the invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual block diagram of the power supplier's orcompany's interface to a controller in one preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a two-dimensional overview diagram of a house which may beemployed having a number of systems controllable in accord with one ofthe preferred embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 a is a model of the display used by a preferred embodiment ofthis invention.

FIGS. 4 b-r (there is no FIG. 4 j) are ordered sets of displays inaccord with a preferred embodiment of this invention available to theuser through the display illustrated in FIG. 4 a.

FIG. 5 is a partial example profile list representing a heating systemfor use in a house in accord with a preferred embodiment of thisinvention.

FIG. 6 is another preferred embodiment profile list.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A controller for controlling the energy-consuming equipment and systemsin a building which may benefit from changing utility rate informationis taught in this invention. In a memory, the controller stores pricepoint profiles that contain information indicating the appropriatesetpoint-delta, or setpoint limit for each system under control by thecontroller for each price point. A price point may be called a tier, arate change or rate, or a critical change, depending on an agreed-uponor established convention for the utility. Some of this information maychange over the course of a day or week, and some may be real-timedriven by signals provided by the utility service provider. In the main,this invention is concerned with the last mentioned kind of price changeinformation but does also accommodate others.

A processor is connected to produce adjusted setpoint signals or adjustthe setpoint for each of the controlled subsystems. All the changes willoccur based on the predetermined information located in the pricingprofiles stored in memory.

The controller has a gateway for communicating the pricing point signalsto the controller from the utility. A significant amount of variabilityis available to the designer employing the invention described herein,which should only be considered limited by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 describes the control system 10 consisting of a controller 11which, in the preferred embodiment is organized to include a userinterface 12, memory subsystem 14, heating plant interface 15 a, airconditioner interface 15 b and power line interface 4; each of whichcommunicate with a processor 16, either through direct connections orvia a controller bus 5. In the preferred embodiment, a communicationsinterface to the utility (called an external interface) 13 is connectedto the controller through power line interface 4. The controller 11 maysend output signals heating plant 15 a, air conditioner 15 b, othersystems 6 and 7, and the user interface 12 as desired by the user forcontrolling the various systems that are controlled by the controller11.

A preferred bus structure for setting up the interfaces between thecontroller and the other components is described with reference to FIG.1A. A number of companies currently provide a universal interface forhome control, for example “H-Bus” (provided by Honeywell Inc.) whichhere could operate as controller bus 81. This bus would allow forcommunications between the various components attached to that bus ofthe various control and information signals and data which need to bepassed the units at the system. The H-Bus™ system provided by Honeywell,for example, provides for a DC balanced, limited set of code words whichall systems may read and which only appropriate systems will react to.Alternative forms of busses are well known and, as the art develops, newbusses will become known and the most efficient bus for the appropriatesituation should be employed by the designer. The external interface tothe utility 86 in the preferred embodiment interfaces with a utilityprovided coaxial cable 84 although there are many ways the utilitypricing signal could be fed into the system 8 (for example, RFI 86 acould receive RF signals). Likewise, fiber-optic cable or the powerlines themselves may be used if desired.

In the illustration of FIG. 1A, H-Bus™ interface 91 merely provides forcommunications between two busses, 81 and 82, where bus 82 may be,alternatively, another H-Bus™, or perhaps even a power line used as abus. The bus 82 side of interface 91 will, of course, have to be adaptedto the particular situation. In this situation, for example, controller17 could connect directly to bus 82 i it were an H-Bus™, and interface91 would not be needed.

In some embodiments this communication could be two-way, to also providedata back to the utility. Many different forms of external interface maybe employed without going beyond the scope of this invention and theseare described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2. The controller 87(11) resides on both a serial bus 82 and on the power line which here isalso used for communicating data. The user interface 12 preferably alsoresides on the same serial bus 82. A power line interface (PLI) (whichmay also be provided to all communicating systems on the power line)will, in the minimum configuration for using a power line interface,provide signals from the controller through the power line 83 to systemsthat function through power line controllers (for example, LSMcontroller module 88 which controls load 89). In the simplest case, alight (which might be load 89) could be turned on or off at varioustimes of the day or according to various other factors taken intoconsideration by the controller 88. Many other configurations based onthis example should be readily apparent to those of ordinary is skill inthis art.

Referring now to FIG. 2, potential forms of interface from the powercompany 20 to the controller 11 are described. Each one of these hasstrengths and weaknesses which may be overcome by others. A telephoneline 25 may connect an interface 13 a to the controller in a house or ina building, for instance, or a direct line 21 may go directly to theinterface box 13 d which connects to the controller 11. If the powercompany opts to send signals through the power lines 24 themselves tointerface box 13 b, a number of problems may develop with the carryingof such signals through the transformer network currently employed byelectric utility companies, for example. Some combination of power lineand radio wave signals may be employed such as, for instance, having aradio receiver at every transformer in a locality wherein the radioreceiver would send an appropriate signal over the power lines after thetransformer into the individual's houses or buildings or, a small areamay be blanketed in which each house has a box 13 c with an antenna 13 dwhich receives RF signals from an output antenna 23 from the powercompany on line 22. As with the previous two diagrams, many combinationsof the above will occur to the designer of ordinary skill in the artwithout leaving the scope of this invention. In the presently preferredembodiment, the utility signals the user's facility/home/building via acoaxial cable. This signal is transferred into the facility's internalpower lines, where a power line interface receives the signals.

In general, any value laden signal could be called a “tier” signal. So,for example, if the utility provider sent signals corresponding toreal-time price data, the processor would have to be modified to respondto such data rather than to a “tier” level signal. It is presently feltthat the simplicity provided by using a limited number of tier signalsaffords use of simpler processors and for that reason it is presentpreferred. The practitioner of ordinary skill can easily adapt thisinvention to any type of consistent signaling mechanism.

FIG. 3 has a collapsed floor plan of a house 30 and pool 40 showingvarious subsystems 31-39 and 41, which are controllable through the useof this invention. The air conditioning subsystem 31 and the furnace orheating subsystem (preferably electric) 34 generally will work togetherthrough a thermostat (not shown). In sophisticated houses a verticalblind turning motor 32 could be provided to reduce heat load or increaseheat load provided by the sun on rooms in a building through a window.Various lighting subsystems may be controlled individually such as plantlights 33 in an arboretum, exterior security lights 38 a and 38 c andexterior pool lights 39 a-c. A hot water heater 35, washer/dryer 36,refrigerator 37 and pool pump 41 provide other examples of subsystemswhich may be controlled by use of this invention. By quickly referringback to FIG. 2, it can easily be seen that various controller interfacessuch as 13 a, 15 d, 13 b and 16 may be employed for controlling thesesubsystems of the user's homes.

For example, the security light system 38 a and 38 b may be turned on atall times during the evening hours, regardless of cost, in a high-crimeneighborhood. Likewise, beyond a certain price tier or level, the poolpump subsystem 41 and outdoor pool lights 39 a-c would likely be turnedoff any time price of power for them reaches a certain tier. As wouldoccur to the reader, there may be times that an owner/occupier of abuilding space would prefer to override a standard program and this canbe included as well.

Some systems of the typical house however, will preferably have theirsetpoints adjusted rather than either being simply turned on or offbased on the price point provided by a utility. The most common examplecurrently would be the heating and air conditioning system in thetypical residential home or commercial building. Typically, setbackthermostats have become well distributed within the United States andare well known elsewhere. These thermostats allow for programming by theoccupant to accommodate his schedule. The simplest version would havetwo modes or periods, a high and a low, but most have at least four.These have been called various things but commonly may be referred to asperiod: WAKE, LEAVE, RETURN and SLEEP, which may roughly be interpretedas warm up the house in the winter because the occupant is waking, theoccupant is leaving so reduce power consumption for maintaining thecomfort in a space, the occupant is returning and wants a higher levelof comfort, and the occupant expects to be asleep and therefore adifferent temperature and comfort level is required. An exemplary unitis produced by Honeywell Inc. and goes by the trademark “Magicstat™”,and provides these four modes for the occupant to program.

The invention herein, with reference to this subsystem of heating,ventilation and air conditioning control may operate at various levelsof complexity depending upon the subsystems and controllers available inthe house or building. In general, it may function in one of two ways.First, it may require a list of setpoints for each controlled subsystem(furnace, air conditioner, lighting systems, refrigerator cycling time,etc.) for each price point or tier which the utility may provide.Second, it may simply maintain a list of offsets for each price-point.

For the example of the first, refer to FIG. 5 in which the profiles forfour levels; A, B, C and D corresponding to low price, medium price,high price and critical are shown for the furnace. For purposes ofexplanation, assume this is electric furnace 34 and air conditioner 31in house 30 of FIG. 3. Zone 1 may be the bedrooms. For user convenience,it may be called “Master BR” or some other mnemonic chosen by the user.Zone 2 may be the kitchen and zone 3 may be the dining room area. Eachone of these profiles A-D should exist for each mode available to theuser. In those illustrated in FIG. 5, the sleep mode is the only modeindicated. Thus, if the occupant expects to be sleeping, the temperaturepreferred for the bedroom at the lowest price point available from theutility (Price-Low) would be 68° for the bedrooms in this user's mostdesirable comfort. The kitchen and living room are not being occupiedand therefore a cooler temperature may be perfectly all right for thisuser, 60° Fahrenheit for zones 2 and 3, respectively. This exampleassumes wintertime weather in which the outdoor air temperature is,perhaps, 20° Fahrenheit. Profile B shows the setpoints for the heater inthe sleep mode at the medium tier price. Profile C shows the three-zonesetpoints in the sleep mode at the high price point. If the utilityprovider so desires and there are peak demand periods which must bedealt with and users who don't deal with them through this demand-sidemanagement must pay an exorbitant price may be summarized in the profilecritical—D, which in the sleep mode allows the bedrooms to reach 60°Fahrenheit and the living room and dining room area to reach 48°Fahrenheit. If a critical tier is employed by the utility provider, itmay specify the setpoints itself.

For an example of the second method of profile usage, see FIG. 6 inwhich again a partial layout of profile (here A, B, A₁ and B₁) is shownto demonstrate the concept employed here. FIG. 6 contains two modepartial profile sets; A, B for a “WAKE” mode and A₁, B₁, to contain theinformation for the first two price levels for the “AWAY” mode. In thissecond method, note that a single offset is applied to the entire set ofsubsystems affected.

It is anticipated that this might, in the ordinary homestead, be limitedto one or two subsystems, i.e., the HVAC and perhaps the hot waterheater. In such cases where the first applications of this invention arelikely to be found, it seems most advantageous not to add the memory tohold different offsets for different zones. Accordingly, this is thepresently preferred embodiment.

In the FIGS. 4 a-r, a user interface panel 50 contains a display area51, a set of four soft keys 52 a, b, c, d, and two hard keys 53, Selectand Back. Various configurations for data on the display 51 may beprovided by other designers but in the preferred embodiment, arrows orother symbols 55 indicate the functions of the soft keys 52 a-d byreference 56 associated with each such symbol 55. Where a display merelyindicates information about the user's options, such as a help screen, adisplay configuration such as that shown in FIG. 4 c may be provided inthe preferred embodiments. In other cases, information 57 and a zonename or message 54 is preferably provided on the display 51 as in FIG. 4a. For ease of explanation, keys 52 and 53 contain information regardingtheir function which would not generally be available to the user. Forexample, in FIG. 4 a, key 52 a has two “+” signs indicating that thefunction of softkey 52 a is to increase the amount of warmth, and key 52b has two “−” signs to show that the amount of warmth should bedecreased and that the setpoint should be reduced. These “++” and “−−”keys will not be on the user touch pad but are included in thesedrawings to provide redundant information to the reader in order tofacilitate the grasp of the inventive concepts of this document.

The use of softkeys allows the user to control the system withoutrequiring a complicated or expensive user interface such as ageneral-purpose computer. However, general purpose computers or otherinterface devices may be used if desired. Also if desired, the utilitymay provide for the actuation of particular profiles within individualspaces or homes directly, but this would require such a utility tomaintain an active database and provide a method by which the userscould modify that database to their own desires on some kind ofacceptable basis.

Other symbols drawn onto the keys such as in FIG. 4 b indicate that adisplay is available at another level. N/A would indicate that thatparticular key cannot perform any function with this particular display.N/S indicates a feature not shown or described.

Starting with the display on panel 50, the user is provided with“options” to review schedules and profiles by selecting softkey 52 a“month-to-date-electric bill” by 52 b, “energy rate adjustments” by 52c, and “help” by key 52 d. In this level the user may go back to thedisplay of FIG. 4 a by pressing the key 53 “back”. No other options areavailable to the user from the panel as set up in FIG. 4 b.

In FIG. 4 c, a help screen would be the result of the user selectingsoftkey 52 d in FIG. 4 b. By selecting key 53 “select” the user would bemoved to review the display of FIG. 4 d which concludes the informationavailable for this help function.

Moving on to FIG. 4 d (the next level inward), the user would thenselect key 53 “back”, leading him to the display illustrated in FIG. 4 eto review the schedules and profiles. Another help screen is availableby selecting key 52 d at this stage, and a connection to the controllermay be had by the user by selecting key 52 c. FIGS. 4 f and 4 g show thehelp screens available from FIG. 4 e. FIG. 4 h shows an electric bill.FIG. 4 i shows the user what this means. FIG. 4 k shows the user whathis energy rate adjustments are for heating and cooling, allows him toselect more energy rate adjustments by pressing key 52 d, or changingthe adjustments for the heating and the cooling by selecting softkeys 52a-c. Only the “high” rate setting is shown in these figures.

In FIG. 4l, the user is allowed to go back to factory settings ifdesired. In FIGS. 4 m-p, this is all explained (a “help” function).

By use of a simplified user interface such as the one described in thesefigures, user options may also be limited if desired, but they are notin the preferred embodiment. For example, in FIG. 4 q, it can be seenhow the user would adjust for the high adjustment for the option of FIG.4 k. In FIG. 4 r, the user can be shown that he is trying to exercisecontrol beyond the limits agreed to between himself and the utility. Thedisplay of FIG. 4 r, in the preferred embodiment, will appear wheneverthe user attempts to go beyond his pre-agreed limits. This type ofdisplay may be used for other than profile out of bounds commands too.For example, the user may attempt to override a DLC signal at a time orfor a load for which this is not permitted under the agreement with theutility. In such event a screen that says “direct control of this loadis not permitted at this time” would be an appropriate form of message.

Having set out the various elements of the system and how the interfacewith the user should operate in a preferred embodiment of the inventionand described how a multiplicity of alternative arrangements may also bepreferred and within the scope of the present invention, a detaileddescriptive of the interactive operation of the system should now behad.

Thus, for example, if at 12 midnight an electric utility were to pullsubstantial load generation capacity offline, say, for maintenance. Itwould then send out a “high price” signal over whatever communicationpathway (FIG. 2) has been selected by the power company 20 to theutility interface to the customer's home, building, business orindustrial facility (external interface, i.e., 13, FIGS. 1 and 1 a). Thecontroller 11 receives this information over bus 17 or directly from theexternal interface 13, whereupon controller 11 refers to the profiles(FIG. 5) stored in memory 14 (an internal part of controller 11 in FIG.1A). The controller maintains a current status set of registersincluding a mode indicator and an active setpoint indicator. Using themode indicator reference, the controller searches memory for the “highprice” profile for each subsystem under its control. Thus, in zone 1,the offset of −3° Fahrenheit is provided to the subsystem controller forzone 1 with reference to the current active setpoint of 68° Fahrenheit.With reference to zone 2, no offset is provided and in reference to zone3, an (−2°) offset is provided.

Alternatively, and in the most preferred embodiment, a very smallprofile set may be stored as in FIG. 5 a. Here the 3° offset is appliedto all units under control of the system for the “high price” signal.

A set of 16 drawings is included as an Appendix which supplies thepresently most preferred embodiment of the Graphic User Interface firstdescribed in FIGS. 4 a et seq.

The invention should not be considered limited, except as set forth inthe following appended claims.

1. A method for controlling an environmental control system, wherein theenvironmental control system controls one or more envirornmentalconditions of an inside space of a user's facility/home/building inaccordance with one or more setpoints, the method comprising the stepsof: establishing communication with the environmental control systemfrom a utility remote from the user's facility/home/building; andsending one or more setpoint commands from the utility, the one or moresetpoint commands providing one or more setpoint indicators for use indetermining the one or more setpoints that are to be used by theenvironmental control system.
 2. A method according to claim 1 whereinthe one or more setpoint indicators provided by the one or more setpointcommands are actual setpoints.
 3. A method according to claim 1 whereinthe one or more setpoint indicators provided by the one or more setpointcommands are setpoint offsets.
 4. A method according to claim 1 whereinthe environmental control system includes an interface, the interfacehelping to establish communication between the environmental controlsystem and the utility.
 5. A method according to claim 1 whereincommunication is established at least partially over a power line.
 6. Amethod according to claim 1 wherein communication is established atleast partially over a telephone line.
 7. A method according to claim 1wherein communication is established at least partially over an RF link.8. A method according to claim 1 wherein communication is established atleast partially over a coaxial cable.
 9. A controller for anenvironmental control system serviced by a utility having a load thatincludes a higher load period and a lower load period, wherein thecontroller accesses one or more setpoints and controls the environmentalcontrol system such that one or more environmental conditions of aninside space of a user's facility/home/building are maintained inaccordance with the one or more setpoints, the controller comprising: acommunications unit adapted to receive one or more setpoint commandsfrom a location that is remote from the user's facility/home/building,the one or more setpoint commands providing one or more setpointindicators for use in determining one or more new setpoints that are tobe used by the environmental control system, wherein the one or moresetpoint commands are selected to help reduce the load on the utilityduring a higher load period; and a controller for accessing the one ormore setpoint indicators and for controlling the environmental controlsystem such that the one or more environmental conditions of the insidespace of the user's facility/home/building are maintained in accordancewith the one or more new setpoints during a higher load period of theutility.
 10. A controller according to claim 9 wherein the one or moresetpoint indicators provided by the one or more setpoint commands areactual setpoints.
 11. A controller according to claim 9 wherein the oneor more setpoint indicators provided by the one or more setpointcommands are setpoint offsets.
 12. A controller according to claim 9wherein the location remote from the user's facility/home/building is autility.
 13. A method for controlling an environmental control system,wherein the environmental control system controls one or moreenvironmental conditions of an inside space of a user'sfacility/home/building using one or more setpoints and one or moreoffsets, the method comprising the steps of: establishing communicationwith the environmental control system from a location that is remotefrom the user's facility/home/building; sending one or more energy pricerelated signals to the environmental control system: and sending one ormore offset commands to the environmental control system, the one ormore offset commands providing one or more offsets to the environmentalcontrol system, the environmental control system using the one or moreoffsets to calculate new setpoints in response to the one or more energyprice related signals.
 14. A method according to claim 13 wherein thelocation remote from the user's facility/home/building is a utility. 15.A controller for an environmental control system, wherein the controlleraccesses one or more setpoints and controls the environmental controlsystem such that one or more environmental conditions of an inside spaceof a user's facility/home/building are maintained in accordance with theone or more setpoints, the environmental control system furtherreceiving one or more energy price related signals from a utility, thecontroller comprising: a communications unit adapted to receive one ormore offset commands from a location that is remote from the user'sfacility/home/building, the one or more offset commands providing one ormore setpoint offsets, each corresponding to a energy price relatedsignal; and a controller for receiving the one or more setpoint offsets,and for calculating one or more setpoints for the environmental controlsystem using the one or more setpoint offsets and the one or more energyprice related signals provided by the utility.
 16. A controlleraccording to claim 15 wherein the controller selects the one or moresetpoint offsets that correspond to the energy price related signalreceived from the utility.
 17. A method for controlling an environmentalcontrol system for a user's facility/home/building, the methodcomprising the steps of: storing one or more setpoint indicators at alocation that is remote and separate from the user'sfacility/home/building, establishing communications with theenvironmental control system and providing at least selected setpointindicators to the environmental control system; and operating theenvironmental control system to control one or more environmentalconditions of an inside space of the user's facility/home/building inaccordance with one or more setpoints, wherein the one or more setpointsare based on the selected setpoint indicators.
 18. A method according toclaim 17 wherein the one or more setpoint indicators are actualsetpoints.
 19. A method according to claim 17 wherein the one or moresetpoint indicators are setpoint offsets.
 20. A method according toclaim 17 wherein the one or more setpoint indicators include both actualsetpoints and setpoint offsets.
 21. A method according to claim 17wherein the one or more setpoint indicators are stored in a database.22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising the step ofallowing a user to change the one or more setpoint indicators stored inthe database.
 23. A method for controlling an environmental controlsystem, wherein the environmental control system controls one or moreenvironmental conditions of an inside space of a user'sfacility/home/building having two or more zones in accordance with oneor more setpoints, the method comprising the steps of: establishingcommunication with the environmental control system from a location thatis remote and separate from the user's facility/home/building; andsending one or more setpoint commands from the remote location, the oneor more setpoint commands providing one or more setpoint indicators foruse in determining the one or more setpoints that are to be used by theenvironmental control system in each of the zones of the inside space.24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the one or more setpointindicators provided by the one or more setpoint commands are actualsetpoints for at least two zones of the inside space.
 25. A methodaccording to claim 23 wherein the one or more setpoint indicatorsprovided by the one or more setpoint commands are setpoint offsets forat least two zones of the inside space.
 26. A method according to claim25 wherein each of the setpoint offsets corresponds to a particularenergy price related level determined by a utility.
 27. A methodaccording to claim 23 wherein the location remote from the user'sfacility/home/building is a utility.
 28. A controller for anenvironmental control system that has two or more zones, the controllercomprising: a communications unit adapted to receive one or more energyprice related signals provided by a utility designating one or moreenergy price related levels; and a controller for controlling theenvironmental control system such that one or more environmentalconditions in each zone are maintained in accordance with one or moresetpoints, wherein the one or more setpoints correspond to a designatedenergy price related level.
 29. A controller according to claim 28wherein the controller includes a memory for storing one or moresetpoint profiles for each zone, at least one setpoint profile for eachof at least two zones designating at least one setpoint for each of atleast two energy price related levels.
 30. A controller according toclaim 28 wherein the one or more setpoints for each zone that correspondto a designated energy price related level are different for at leasttwo zones.
 31. A controller for an environmental control system that hastwo or more zones, the controller comprising: a communications unitadapted to receive one or more energy price related signals provided bya utility designating one or more energy price related levels; a memoryfor storing one or more setpoint profiles for each zone, at least onesetpoint profile for two or more zones including at least one offset foreach of at least two energy price related levels; and a controller forcontrolling the environmental control system such that one or moreenvironmental conditions in each zone are maintained in accordance withthe corresponding one or more setpoints, as well as the corresponding atleast one offset for the designated energy price related level.
 32. Acontroller for controlling two or more appliances in a user'sfacility/home/building, the controller receiving one or more energyprice related signals from a utility that select one of at least twodifferent energy price related levels, the controller comprising: acommunications unit adapted to receive the one or more energy pricerelated signals provided by the utility; and a memory for storing one ormore setpoint profiles for each appliance, at least one setpoint profilefor selected appliances including at least one offset for each of atleast two energy price related levels; and a controller for controllingthe two or more appliances such that each appliance is maintained inaccordance with the corresponding one or more setpoints, as well as thecorresponding at least one offset for the currently designated energyprice related level.
 33. A controller according to claim 32 wherein atleast one of the appliances is an environmental control system.
 34. Acontroller according to claim 32 wherein at least one of the appliancesis a water heater.
 35. A method for controlling a control system,wherein the control system controls one or more conditions in accordancewith one or more setpoints, the method comprising the steps of:providing one or more offsets, wherein each offset corresponds to aenergy price related level designated by a utility; selecting an offsetthat corresponds to a current energy price related level; and changingthe one or more setpoints used by the control system based on theselected offset.
 36. A method according to claim 35 wherein the one ormore setpoints are changed in response to a change in the energy pricerelated level.
 37. A method according to claim 35 wherein the one ormore setpoints are user-defined.
 38. A method according to claim 35wherein the one or more offsets are user defined.
 39. A method accordingto claim 35 wherein the one or more setpoints are at least partiallyutility-defined.
 40. A method according to claim 35 wherein the one ormore offsets are at least partially utility-defined.